Run AnyDesk and prepare access
AnyDesk is a remote desktop app for connecting to and controlling another computer. On Windows, its small downloaded file can run directly, so you can start a session without installing the program. This is useful when helping someone who needs a straightforward way to begin a remote support session.
Each device has an AnyDesk ID. To connect, enter the other device’s ID and wait for the person there to accept the request. Share your ID only with someone you know and trust: a person you let in can see and control your computer, and fake support callers may ask for remote access.
For access to your own PC when nobody is present, install AnyDesk and configure a password for unattended access. The connection uses TLS 1.3 encryption; the official notes for AnyDesk also describe session recording, which can be useful when you need to review a remote session later.
What you can do after setup
Once the other person accepts the connection, you can view and control their screen to help with tasks on their computer. The same process works in reverse when you want to reach your own machine remotely. During an active session, AnyDesk also lets you copy files between the two computers, keeping file exchange within the remote connection.
AnyDesk supports connections involving Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. The program is also listed for ChromeOS and Raspberry Pi, giving it a range of supported platforms beyond Windows. Which device initiates the connection and which one receives it depends on the task and the clients in use.
Session recording provides a way to watch a remote session later. For practical support, this can help you revisit steps after a call; for remote access to a personal computer, unattended access avoids needing someone to accept the request each time.
Personal use and security considerations
AnyDesk is freeware for personal use, while business use requires a paid license. The free version may restrict sessions it detects as commercial, so it is not intended for company work or IT support activity. AnyDesk is closed source, which may also matter to people who require open-source software.
Installation is optional for starting a normal session, but unattended access requires installing the program and setting a password. Use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication for that access. Do not accept connection requests or disclose your ID simply because someone claims to provide technical support.
For personal tasks, AnyDesk’s core workflow is to share an ID, obtain the other person’s acceptance, and then work with their screen or transfer files. Its direct-running Windows file suits occasional help, while installation and protected unattended access suit reaching a computer you own when no one is there to approve the connection.